OSCOLA for EndNote, Latek, Refworks and Zotero

These styles for bibliographic software are designed to help legal scholars format cases, legislation, articles and books in compliance with OSCOLA. The Endnote styles are developed by the Oxford Law Faculty; there are detailed instructions below. For the other software:

  • OSCOLA Biblatex Style written by Paul Stanley of Essex Court Chambers
  • Refworks style, written by Jason Harper of Kent University, is in all Refworks installations, is called OSCOLA 4th Edition - Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities.
  • Zotero styles: search for OSCOLA in the Zotero Style Repository or try the MLZ OSCOLA style written by Frank Bennet (for which documentation is in development) .

The Endnote styles are below. Writers with their own computers and Endnote program probably should use OSCOLA 2 4th edn. It is more finely tuned than the Basic/Web/Server style. Unlike OSCOLA 2 4th edn, the Basic style does not require modification of Endnote’s ‘Reference Type Table’. Modifying the ‘Reference Type Table’ allows more precision and flexibility in the structure of the Endnote library and in the output style. Perhaps the most useful modification in the OSCOLA 2 4th edn style is the provision of two different fields for the year of publication for journal articles, which allows either square or round brackets to be inserted as appropriate. Earlier versions of the OSCOLA for Endnote styles are available on the Archive page.

Frequently asked questions about Oscola for Endnote

  1. OSCOLA 2 4th edn for personal computers (OSCOLA 2 4th edn)
  2. How to install OSCOLA 2 4th edn on your computer
  3. Basic/web/server style for OSCOLA (OSCOLA 4th edn, updated 25 April 2011)
  4. Updating your existing OSCOLA for Endnote style
  5. Archive of OSCOLA-Lite for Endnote

1. OSCOLA 2 4th edn for personal computers

This OSCOLA 2 Fourth Edition style is a continuation of the OSCOLA-Lite styles. Libraries created using OSCOLA_2 and OSCOLA-Lite should work with this style - see the Notes about this style for specific advice. This style has customised reference types for cases and journals, which means it is essential to import the RefTypeTable to use OSCOLA 2 4th edn properly.

From version X4 onwards, Endnote provides for a short form for each reference type, which provides more flexibility for subsequent citations of a source. This new development also means that a different version of the OSCOLA 2 4th edn style must be used for Endnote X3 and earlier versions.

Essential files for Endnote X4, X5, X6:

Essential files for Endnote X3 and earlier versions:

Optional files:

  • Sample OSCOLA 2 4th edn library : This file includes many of the references in the OSCOLA 2 4th edn Guide - you may find it helpful when figuring out how to input your own references.
  • Journal terms list : This file contains journal abbreviations from OSCOLA. If you download and import it into Endnote using Tools/Terms list/Define terms lists, the abbreviations will go into Endnote's 'Abbreviations 1' list, and the OSCOLA style will then automatically abbreviate these journals. See your Endnote manual for more information.

2. How to install OSCOLA 2 4th edn

First, download the 'RefTypeTable.xml' file to your desktop or another area to which you have access. Download the 'OSCOLA_2_4th_edn.ens' to the same location, or directly to the Styles folder in the Endnote Program files if you have access to this folder (which depends on how your computer is set up and its operating system). Do not open the files.

To install the RefTypeTable:

  1. Open Endnote. Go to Edit/Preferences/Reference Types. (In a Mac, it's File/Preferences/Reference Types.)
  2. Click on Import files and import "RefTypeTable.xml" from the location where you have saved the file.
  3. Check in the Journal Article reference type for the field called 'Add year here if there is a volume number'' to ensure that the file has installed correctly.

To install the style (oscola_2_4th_edn.ens) on your PC:

  1. If you have not been able to save the OSCOLA_2_4th_edn.ens file directly to your Endnote Styles folder, copy the file that you have downloaded and saved.
  2. If you have access to your Program Files, (in C:\), open the Endnote Program, then open the Styles folder, and paste the style into that folder.
  3. If you don't have access to your Program Files, go to My Documents, where the Endnote Program will probably have installed an Endnote folder (for recent versions of Endnote). Create a Styles folder within the Endnote folder, and paste the style therein. If Endnote has not created a folder in your 'My Documents' you will have to do that.
  4. Open Endnote, choose to select a new style, and search for OSCOLA.

To install the style (oscola_2_4th_edn.ens) on your Mac:

  1. Open Applications, where you will see an EndNote folder.
  2. Inside the Endnote folder you will find the Styles folder: save the Endnote style therein.
  3. Open Endnote, choose to select a new style, and search for OSCOLA.

3. Basic/Web/Server style for OSCOLA (OSCOLA 4th edn, updated 25 April 2011)

If you use Endnote want to be able to use your Endnote library on computers other than your own personal computer, use this style. It is also suitable for institutional provision in shared computer rooms, and/or on Endnote Web. If installing on a personal computer, follow the instructions for installing OSCOLA 2 (above). When using this style, journal citations that should have the year in square brackets (such as Public Law) have to be modified when the work is finished and after the Endnote citations have been converted to plain text.

4. Updating your existing OSCOLA for Endnote style

You need to be familiar with Bibliographic Styles in Endnote to make these changes. See the Help section in Endnote, and look at 'Templates and Settings in OSCOLA 2 4th edn' and/or 'OSCOLA Notes about this style' if using the simple/server version.

To update your existing OSCOLA for Endnote style so that it is compliant with OSCOLA 4th edn, remove the City field and add a field for 'additional information' immediately inside the brackets for all Book templates (you may choose to use your existing Series Title field), and change the Title field in Report templates from roman in quote marks to italic. Copy all templates into Bibliography templates, and put the case number after party names in the Cases reference. Set authors in Bibliography so that it shows surname followed by initials without additional punctuation, eg Smith J.

Consult OSCOLA 4th edn frequently and make adjustments as necessary.

5. Archive of OSCOLA-Lite for Endnote

Archive of previous versions for existing users of OSCOLA with Endnote, with installation notes for Endnote 8, 9 and 10.

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